Book recommendations for a 12 year old girl?

[Jenn in Mo]

I know it's a pretty broad topic, but a friend of mine has a 12 year old daughter and is having trouble finding books for her that don't involve sappy romance or tons of mysticism/sorcery. She is a Christian and, when she was younger, she enjoyed the American Girl series.

Any suggestions for my friend?

Thanks!

[orangeblossom]

It's a hard age when you don't want them reading certain types of books...it seems like that's what most of the books are geared towards for this age. My dd12 has been reading a lot of the older classics and historical fiction novels. Also, she's really gotten into good old fashioned mysteries.

[In The Great White North]

The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton
The Sue Barton series (probably Cherie Ames too but I didn't read those)
Anne of Green Gables, etc
Understood Betsy
older Nancy Drews/Hardy Boys (ie. not paperback or bright shiny covers)
Van Stockum books
Little Princess
Secret Garden
most of the books on the Reading Your Way Thru History list
all of the Landmark books
Little Maid of Vermont (Connecticut, Old Virginia, etc)
Little Women, etc


possibly old enough for:
Kirsten Lavransdatter etc
Jane Austen books
Treasure Island etc

[Melinda in VT]

I know it's a pretty broad topic, but a friend of mine has a 12 year old daughter and is having trouble finding books for her that don't involve sappy romance or tons of mysticism/sorcery. She is a Christian and, when she was younger, she enjoyed the American Girl series.

Any suggestions for my friend?

Thanks!

That was the age when I read all the Agathe Christie novels I could get my hands on.

[MelissaD]

What about The Penderwicks? It might be a little below that age level; I'm not sure, my oldest is only 7.

[LNC]

Authors w/ lots of light, old-fashioned titles:

L.M Montgomery
Louisa May Alcott
Gene Stratton Porter
Kate Douglas Wiggin
Eleanor Porter
Susan Coolidge
Jean Webster
Maud Hart Lovelace

[Melinda in VT]

Has she read any Chaim Potok? I think this was about the age I started reading his books. Although they are not Christian (obviously), they definitely uphold religious values and the importance of a religious life.

[Stacia]

Not a novel, but she might enjoy The Daring Book for Girls (http://www.amazon.com/Daring-Book-Girls-Andrea-Buchanan/dp/0061472573/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219692712&sr=1-1) too.